lichtenberg



July 24, 1928.

E. H. LICHTENBERG CRANE ATTACHMENT 5 sheets-sheet Filed May 8, 1923 J H I July 24, 1928.

E. H. LICHTENBERG CRANE ATTACHMENT I Filed May 8, 1923 7 3 Sheets- Sheet 2 July 24, 19,23.

' E. H. LICHTENBERG CRANE ATTACHMENT Filed May 8, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet ZHh'chZe/zbeg Stratum Patented July 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERICK H. LICHTENBERG, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T KOEHRING COM- PANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION.

CRANE ATTACHMENT.

Application filed May 8, 1923.

ment of the invention is mounted upon a concrcte paver, so called today in the to which it appertains. and embodying a mixing unit, a loading unit in the form of a skip, and a distributing unit which takes the mixed concrete and carries it to th subgrade. The crane attachment of my invention is designed to lift a batch box which forms the body of an industrial. car, from the truck of the car, shift it over the loading skip of the paving machine dump the contents of the batch box into the ship and then return the box to the car. The purpose of the invention is to render rather highly automatic certain features of the crane attachment. To exemplify the foregoing. it may be noted that the novel features by which the foregoing object is attained include a crane mast which is so mounted that when the load of the batch box and its contents is imposed upon the mast the crane automatically carries the loaded batch box by swinging movement of the boom, to a position over the ship; a cable control for the batch box is then operated to actuate the ca ble thus causing a dun'iping of the batch box. hen the batch box is dumped a spring peculiarly mounted in relation to tl e mast of the crane shifts the latter so as to carry the emptied batch box into a position out of the way of the loading ship which has now been filled. This last action is anton'iatic and. eliminates loss of time incident to manual operation, pern'iitting innnediate raising of the loading ship practically a moment after the batch boa: has been dumped to discharge into said ship.

In carrying out my invention 1 am using a double function spring for the purpose just previously mentioned. In other words, the spring I employ is a mastelevating spring by which the mast is raised automatically after the weight of a load is relieved therefrom, so that the foot of the mast will not be grounded except when a load is imposed upon the crane.

This last feature per se incident to a smgle function of the spring constitutes a separate invention of mine which is the basis of a separate application for a patent.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 Serial No. 637,584.

is a diagrammatic plan view showing a concrcte payer along side of an industrial railway, the crane attachn'iont being illustrated in dotted lines as when it is being connected with a batch box of one of the railway cars, other dotted lines showing the swing of the crane boom over the ship to dump the box into the latter, and full lines showing the position to which the crane automatically moves to get out of the way of the skip and to a point adjacent to the railway as evident.

liigure 2 is an enlarged rear view of a portion of this machine which carries the amomatic crane of my invention. The lignre is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 6f

iii." e 3 is a sectional view that brings out more clearly the arrangen'icnt and action of the spring in moving the mast about its vertical axis The figure is a section on the line 3 3 oi r. 6.

11 igurc l is another View, a partial front elevation of the spring showing more clearly its connection with the collar on the mast.

Figure 5 is a full rear elevation of the concrete paving machine and crane attachment with the boom of the crane swung laterally of the machine.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the rear portion of the concrete paver, showing the batch box swung to a position above the skip, dotted lines illustrating the up and down movement of the mast and boom under the influence of the spring, and other dotted lines indicating the up and down nn'wement of the batch box to auton'iatically discharge the contents of the latter.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the rear end of the paver showing the special. supporting means for the adjustable bracket in which the lower portion of the mast is adapted to slide and by which it is guided.

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 2.

Those acquainted wi h the art of concrete handling for the purposes of laying roads and pavements are familiar with the conventional type of concrete paver designated generally at A in the drawings. The ma chine comprises the .rnixer 1, the loading ship 2 and the boom and bucket or other type of distributor 3.

The industrial railway illustrated in Figure 1 is a conventional type, and is generally indicated at B, its hopper cars are designated Ill) C and are of the bottom dump class, or in other words, are emptied with bottom dumpinn; doors l, seen best in Figure (3.

My 'ane attachment in most of its main features of construction has heretofore been put into extensive use and found very etiicicnt in operation. The attachment coinl n'lfrlttl the n'iast E3, the upwardly swinging boom 6 adapted to swing horizontally or latorally with the mast as an axis, grapple means including an upper cross head 7 and a lower cross bar 8, and a hoisting cable 9 which is connected a 2; one end with. the cross bar 8, passes around sheaves 10 at the upper end oi? the boom and around a sheave on the head 7. The cable 9 extends to a hoist drum it, as seen in Figure 6 to best advantage. The boom (3 is limited in. its outward and downward movement by a chain 12 which permits of pulling the boom inward toward the mast under certain conditions oil? serv ice, and not particularly relevant to the present invention. The mast is pitched at a slight angle to the vertical, being supported by a guide bracket 13 through which the lower portion of the mast 5 pas es, the lower end oi the mast having a loosely swinging toot l l of now known construction. At its upper end the mast 5 is connected with a spring; 15, preferably of the coiled type, one end of whicu is attached. to the upper portion oi the trau1c-worlr ot the paver A, and the other and lower end of which is attached to a clamp collar 16 on the mast.

Normally tae tendency of the spring is to lift the mast 5 to substantially the posit-ion oi? Figure 5, pet iitting a moving downward or grounding ot toe mast, as shown in Fig.

(3, when a load is imposed. upon the crane attachincnt, as per the illustration of said last- .i'iained figure.

The slight inclination of the mast 5 from the vertical is the means heretofore proposed by me whereby the load which may be rappled and. raised by the cross bar 8 and the cross head 7, the latter with its chains 17 and. hooks 18, will be caused to automatically shift from a position say at right angles to the machine A, as seen in Fig. 1, to a posi tion above the loading ship 2 out said inachine owing to the automatic rotation of the mast incident to the gravitativc action of the load im losed thereon. lVhen the load, in this instance the batch box t], reaches its position above the ship 2, the operator winds in the cable 9 and thereby raises the cross bar 8 which engaged with loops 1.) at opposite sides ot the body oi the batch box: (I, and also raises the cross head 7, the hoolts 18 ot the chains 17 oil. which are engaged with loops 20 of slides 21 on the opposite sides of the batch boa. lhe slides 21 connect with the doors 4-. l i hen the batch box 0 has been raised a sullicicnt distance to bring the sheave block 252 of the cross head 7 into engagement with a vertical stop bar 23 dependingfroni the upper end of the boom 6, the movement of the doors at oi the batch box ceases, but the continued pull on the cable 9 raises the body oi the batch This is illustrated in Figure ti in dotted lines, and the relative. movement of the body oi the batch box C and the doors l causes opwingof the latter and dumping oi the box contents into the ship 2. lfhe load. on the crane attacl'nnent is 1nat'e rally relieved incident to the foregoing operation 0t dumping the batch box (3, and the spring 15 has its connection with the collar 16 so located that upon emptying of the batch box the spring tends to rotate the. mast 5 in a direction opposite to its movebentpreviously described, due to its inclination to the vertical, thereby shifting the boom 6 to a position about that indicated in full lines in Fig. l in such full line p0sition it will be apparent that the boom is out of the way of the ship and moves to that position carrying with it the batch box under the influence of the spring 15, and without any manual operation the batch bo is carried. clear of the ship 2 and in position not interfering with movement of the train C.

The inhaul on the cable 9 is intended to pull the boom (3 in towards the mast under some conditions, not relevant to this invention. l iiliewise it is notable that the mast 5 is grounded when the parts Sand 18 are engaged with the'batch box parts and the weight of the batch be is transferred to the crane attachment. Thus the load of supporting the weight or the batch box and its contents not received upon tile paving machine but is largely carried by the foot member 14 of the mast 5 and the subgrade upon which the machine A travels.

The peculiar oil-set disposition of the point oi? connection of the spring 15 with the arm oi the clamping collar 16 gives rise to the advantages ot certain automatic movement of the emptied batch box, to a position out oil the way of the skip. it is furthermore notable that the cable 9 really performs several functions, because under its influence as a single operating member, the batch box is lirst hoistedotl of the industrial car. As soon as the batch box is clear oi the car truck under the influence of the cable the swinging movement of the crane is initiated under the influence of gravity so that the batch ho); is carried over the ship 2. 'lhen under the influence o1 the same cable the box is dumped and the dumping of the load relieves the influence of gravity so that spring 15 will overcome this force and swing the box into a position clear ot the skip and train "from which it may be moved readily by hand or other means to swing the emptied batch box over tl'ie'car truck where it may be lowered upon the track by the same cable 9. 'lhus the cable 9 does live or six things, considering actions of the parts initiated under the influence of its operation to be actions which are controlled by the cable. This is a very desirable thing owing to the simplification of operation of the machine thereby attained.

The chain 12 is preferably attached at its inner end to the upper bracket 13 at the top of the framework of the machine, which upper bracket forms the upper guiding means for the mast 5. The bracket 13 may he formed with a flange provided with a series of openings therein designated 13", so that the chain 12 may be adjusted slightly atits point of connection with the framework, this adjustment being adapted to influence the swinging movement of the crane that is more fully presented hereinafter.

The lower bracket 13 which supports the mast 5, and forms a guide for the latter, is mounted peculiarly in that it is slidable forwardly or rearwardly upon an arm 13' which projects rcarwardly from. the frame of the machine and forms a part of a main bracket carrier or slide 13". As seen in Fig. 7, the bracket 13 may he slid rearwardly or forwardly on the arm 13 by a screw adj uster 24 having a handle 25. Likewise the carrier 13 is susceptible of a lateral back and forth movement respecting the frame of the machine thru the provision of a similar screw 26 having a handle 27. The bracket carrier 13" may be slidably mounted upon the frame of the machine in any suitable manner as by being grooved to receive the head of an oifstanding lug 28 carried by the channels that form the framework of the machine. In a like manner the arm 13 may have a groove which receives a head 29 extending from the bracket 13. The heads 28 and 29 may be of T form in cross section and of any substantial constructirm to interlockiugly connect with the parts with which they have sliding co-operation.

The special purpose of the mounting of the bracket 13 as I have thus described it. is to accommodate for dilierent conditions under which a paver with which I may use my crane attachn'ient, may be employed. Thus under modern road construction, super-elevation around curves is becoming more and more required. This elevation n Illinois is one inch to the foot, so that with an eighteen foot road the outer edge of the curve is eighteen inches higher than the inner curb. Naturally the subgrade on which concrete is laid has a corresponding elevation with that of the final pavement. Obviously sloping subgrades on which pavers have to travel affect the action of a crane attachment such as embodied in this invention, especially where the mounting of the mast 5 controls an actual operation of the boom in swinging. Onthe above account, adjustment of the supporting means for the 1218i] 5, and the bracket 13 is desirable and advantageous, enabling a nicety of positioning of the mast in relation to the vertical so that it will function properly and definitely to accomplish the results that have hereinbefore been explained. The adjustment on the bracket 13 is double so as to accommodate not only for adjustment of the mast to a proper vertical position to obtain its automatic swinging movement, but to create a proper stability of the mounting of the mast when the framework of the paver is somewhat inclined due to the fact that the paver is either ascending or descending a more or less steep grade. In mountainous regions very steep grades are encountered in fact in the road construction work, and a forward and rearward adjustment of the bracket 13 on the arm 13 is a very excellent provision for a corresponding adjustn'ient of the mast 5 under the conditions ust above referred to, and such adjustmentis necessary so that the other parts of the crane will function properly.

I wish to also explain that while I have illustrated my cable control for the dumping of the batch box as involving an operation of ole *ating the batch box to effect the dumping operation, conditions may require that the box be lowered for dumping. l l here hopper cars are used the lifting of the batch box is allowable for dumping, but if the boxes be carried by a motor vehicle it is best to dump the box as it is lowered above the skip. Under these conditions the relative movement of the box and its bottom dump doors may be controlled by the cable after the manner of limiting the downward movement of the box and permitting an additional downward movement of its doors, a method reverse to that described herein, and adapted to be performed by means set forth in the co-pending application of E. l Tranaa Serial #572,546, filed July Since the above invention specifically does not form a part of my present invention, it is not illustrated, it merely being my object to set forth that my cable control may OpGliltQ to dump the batch box either during the up ard or downward movement of the latter, and my claims are to be read in the light of this explanation.

Having thus described my invention what I claim new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In combination, a support, a crane thereon embodying a horizontally swinging boom, a load engaging apparatus on said boom, a mast supporting the boom and mounted out of true vertical line so as to automatically cause swinging of the boom in one direction, cable operating means for the load engaging apparatus for raising a load and thereby initiating said swinging move- Inn fit)

mcnt ol the boom in one direction, and means .lor causing f swinging i'novement oil the boom in another direction, adapted to have its operation initiated by action ot said cable means.

In cmnbination, a portable SilppOl'il, a crane ttachinent thereon composing a mast vertically ,movable on said support, a foot. tor the mastadapted to be grounded by the weight of a load imposed upon the attachment, and. a device coat-ting with the mast tor raising it troni a ground position and for at the same time turning the mast about its verticz l. axis.

3. In combination, a support, a crane attachment therefor including a mast, a swinging boom carried by said must, a load engaging apparatus connected with said boom, cable nxaus connected with said apparatus,

the crane atta lunent being mounteiil to automatically swing to unl iiading position troni loading; position as an incident to imposition of a load upon the load engaging appa atus, means to o 'ierate the cable means to iu'ipose a load upon said apparati s and thereby initiate the automatic movement of the attachnient to unloading position, means to move said crane attachment toward its loading position after discharge of the load imposed on said ap iaratus, said last n'ientioned means comprising a spring for swinging the attachment and for raising the attachn'icnt vertically ro'ntively to the ground.

4-, in combination a portable support, a crane attachment thereon comprising a mast vertivally movable on said support, a foot tor the mast adapted to be grounded by the Weight of a load imposed on the attachment,

a boom extending from the mast tor swinging movement, the mast being pitched in such a manner as to tend to swing the boom to an uuloadinu' oositirm automatically, and a device eoacting with the mast :t :r raisii'ig t ir an a ground position and tor swinging the boom in a direaion opposite its auton'iatic swinging movement toward unloading position.

in COIi'il nation ii a porable support, a crai'ie attachnui it thereon comprising a mast voraiijaally movable on said support, a toot for the mast acapted to be grounded by the we ht of a load ii'nposcd on the attachment, a boom e; I from the mast for swinging; movcn'ieut, die mast bcing' pitched. in such a manner as to tend to swing the boom to an unloading position automatically, a device :oacting with the mast for raising it from a ground position and tor swinging the loom in a direction opposite its automatic swinging movement toward unloading position, combined with a load engaging ap paint: s on the booi'n, and able means for operating said apparatus to impose the weight oi. a load on the attachment and initiate the movement of the 111 st to swing, the

the means for swinging boom toward an unloading position, said :able ii cans being; adapted to operate the load engaging apparatus to render effective the boom if 'oin its nnloa ling position.

6. in combination, a support, a crane thereon con'iprising a mast and a swinging boom, the said crane being so mount-ed that when, a load is imposed thereon it will swing to an unloading position, and spring means to r moving the .aid crane toward a loading position who i the load imposed on. the crane released.

7. In combination, a support, a or: no thereon comprising a mast and a swinging boom, the said crane being so mounted tnat when a load imposed thereon it will swing; to an unloading position, and spring n was :lor moving the said crane toward a loading position when the load iinpos d )11 the crane released, the era-c being niounteiil it: a

vertical nmveinent to ground it and 1 aintam it oh the gri'uuid and s; idspruig oping i i to raise it troin connected to the or: no as the ground s. in combination, aisupport,

a crane untcd thereon tor swinging movement, a lor d engaging; apparatus on the c ane, and a cable connected with said lead engag; iratus and operable to impose a load w crane and discharge the load from the .ii, the cm he being constructed to swing in one direction when a load imposed tho-eon by thecable, means ti r swinging the cra in another direction as an incident to the discharging of the load from the crane by the cable, the crane being movable so as to ground it and embodying a boom, the said *ahie being adapteifl simply to swing the boom toward the support onwhieh it i. mounted, and the other means for swingin the crane being adapted to raise the c an; clear ot the ground,

9. In combination a portable support, a 0 one attachn'ient thereon comprising a mast vertically movable on. said support, a foot tor the mast adapted to be groundec by the weight at a load imposed on the attachment, a boom extending from the mast for swinging movement, the mast being pitched in such a manner as to tend to swing the boom Eli liil) lui.

out of true vertical line so as to automatically cause swinging of the boom in one direction, cable operating means for the load engaging apparatus for raising a load and thereby initiati 1g said swinging movement of the boom in one direction, means for causng a swinging movement of the boom in another direction, adapted to have its operation initiated by action of said cable means, the load engaging apparatus including parts operable by said cable for discharging the load engaged by the apparatus, thus initiating the said movement of the boom in the opposite direction stated, and a bracket adjustably mounted on the support for longitudinal and lateral movement and co-opcrating with the mast to support the latter and cause it to assume its position out of true vertical line.

11. 111 combination with a support, a crane attachment comprising a swinging member, a load hoisting and supporting deing position to an unloading position, means to operate the cable of said device to initiate the movement of the last mentioned part and to cause an unloading operation of said de vice, and means supporting the crane attachment upon the said support adapted for longitudinal and lateral adjustment to accon'nnodate for proper functioning of the crane attachment when the support is carried by subgrades inclined either laterally or longitudinally.

12. In combination, a portable machine comprising a framework, a crane attachment carried thereby and embodying a. boom, cable hoisting means associated with said boom for raising loads to be handled by the attachment, a bracket co-operating to support said crane attachment on the portable machine, and means for adjusting said bracket longitudinally of the framework of said machine and also laterally of said fran'iework.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ERICH H. LICHTENBERG. 

